Farmers in Al-Aqiq Governorate, Al-Baha Region, have started harvesting their first date palm crop. Local date markets are bustling as buyers purchase various quantities of ripe, sweet fruits. The Director General of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) branch in Al-Baha, Eng. Fahad Al-Zahrani, explained that Al-Aqiq is well-known for its cultivation of a variety of date palms. The region has around 135,000 date palms, producing approximately 40 tons of dates annually. Al-Aqiq Governorate will host its seventh annual Date Festival, showcasing the region's finest date varieties and featuring various events. According to MEWA, the festival aims to promote date production, encourage farmers, and attract date factories to assist farmers in marketing and preserving their products. Ali bin Muhammad Omaish, a local farmer, noted the recent return of people to agriculture in Al-Aqiq, especially date palm cultivation, a strategic economic resource. He attributed the increased production to the heavy rains the region has experienced. Omaish expressed his desire for Al-Aqiq Governorate to become a leading agricultural powerhouse through better protection of date products and the establishment of a cooperative association. Another local farmer, Mutlaq Al-Ghamdi, highlighted the region's fertile oasis for date production, known for its high-quality dates. He mentioned the growing interest among young people in reviving date palm farms in light of the support and attention from the Kingdom. The ministry is committed to providing services to farmers and marketgoers to ensure the success of the festival, which is a vital economic element of the region. Source: Saudi Press Agency